Partner's Tours
Welcome to Auckland and New Zealand we look forward to showing you our beautiful country.
For all the tours listed below pre-booking is preferred, however bookings (subject to space available) will still be considered up 30 minutes before the indicated departure times. Some tours are suitable for families, please enquire and there may be childrens prices available.
For all tours we recommend that guests wear comfortable shoes, bring warm clothes and a rain jacket, camera and bottled water.
If these tour dates and times do not suit your programme then please inquire about tours being conducted on other days. Guests are requested to by in the lobby of the Sky Grand Hotel 10 minutes before the indicated departure time.| Sunday 15 July Auckland City Sightseeing Tour 8.45am - 12.45pm or 1.00pm - 5.00pm |
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| A great introduction to Auckland and New Zealand, accompanied by a knowledgeable driver / guide discover the highlights of the city of Auckland.
Highlights today will include Auckland city centre, Auckland harbour bridge, Takapuna Beach, Ponsonby Road, a drive to the summit of Mount Eden (one of Auckland’s volcanic cones), Auckland Domain, guided tour of flora/fauna and vulcanology sections of the Auckland Museum, Tamaki Drive and Parnell. Some guests may wish to stay Parnell for lunch and then make their own way back to their hotels. Two options for this tour. Option 2 includes the Maori concert and tour of the Maori Gallery at Auckland Museum. Option 1: $70.00 per person includes tour guide, road transport, entry to Auckland Museum, a guided tour of flora/fauna and vulcanology sections of the Auckland Museum and free time to explore more areas of the museum or explore the Auckland Domain or visit the Winter Gardens. Minimum of 20 guests. Option 2: $115.00 per person includes tour guide, road transport, entry to Auckland Museum, tour of flora/fauna and volcanology sections of the Auckland Museum, Maori concert followed by a guided tour of the Maori Gallery. Minimum of 20 guests. |
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| Monday 16 July Waiheke Island Tour 8.15am - 4.00pm approximately |
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An island paradise. A 35 minute ferry journey across the Waitemata harbour from Auckland you will arrive at Waiheke Island home to about 9,000 people. Over 30 vineyards, numerous olive plantations, kilometres of white sand beaches, spectacular scenery and dozens of artists make Waiheke Island a special place to live and to visit. Highlights today will include wine tasting, olive oil tasting, walk on a white sand beach, great photo opportunities and meeting local artists. $210.00 per person includes tour escort, round trip ferry tickets, road transport on Waiheke Island, wine and olive oil tasting and platter lunch. Minimum of 20 guests. |
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| Monday 16 July Shopping Spree 9.00am - 2.00pm |
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Dust your wallets off and let’s go on a shopping tour. Meet your driver and enthusiastic shopping guide and commence your five hour shopping spree including a visit to an art gallery and a delicious lunch. Visit Parnell, Nuffield Street and Broadway in Newmarket and Ponsonby. Highlights today will include visits to top fashion designers, New Zealand made arts and crafts (including Maori items) and generic retail therapy! $105.00 per person includes coach, driver, enthusiastic shopping guide, morning tea, lunch and refreshments. Minimum of 20 guests. |
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| Tuesday 17 July Matakana Tour 9.00am - 5.00pm approximately |
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A visit to Matakana Coast Wine Country is a treat for the soul. Less than an hour north of Auckland is the Matakana Coast Wine Country area where you might find a fine bottle of wine, great food or an original piece of art. Once the fruit bowl of Auckland Matakana is now home to a flourishing wine industry. Highlights today will include wine tasting at 2 wineries, a visit to Matakana village, lunch, Morris and James (pottery) and a walk on a white sand beach. $180.00 per person includes coach, driver, tour guide, wine tasting at 2 wineries and 2 course (main and dessert) lunch. Minimum 20 guests. |
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| Tuesday 17 July Cooking class with "foodie" Mark McDonough 2.45pm - 5.30pm approximately |
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| Cooking class with one of New Zealand’s most dedicated foodies – Mark McDonough. Mark and his dedicated foodie team at Zarbo are at the forefront of the cafe, deli and gourmet food scene in New Zealand. Zarbo is synonymous with quality, innovation and service. Mark's love of food has taken Zarbo from cafe beginnings to wholesale food provider. He's a cook, a cookbook author and in tandem with Dean Brettschneider has recently opened New Zealand's first in-store micro artisan bakery at Zarbo. Here is your chance to explore the shelves of wonderful deli and gourmet foods at Zarbo and then learn how to make two recipes from Mark and Dean’s cookbook – "The Cook and the Baker". Firstly traditional potted cheese and secondly Melanzana Dolce (chocolate eggplant dish). These two dishes are flavoursome dishes and easily prepared at home. If time permits then a third dish will be prepared. There will be tastings of each dish plus wine, tea and coffee. $110.00 per person includes tour escort, transport, wine, tea, coffee, cooking class and tastings of each dish. Yummmy! Minimum of 20 guests and maximum of 25 guests. |
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| Wednesday 18 July Devonport tour 10.30am - 3.45pm |
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Explore historical Devonport. Travel 10 minutes by ferry from Auckland to Devonport. Tour Devonport by coach and visit two volcanic cones, experience the charm of historical Devonport and enjoy unsurpassed views of the Auckland region. See Maori Pa sites on both Mt Victoria and North Head, and the interesting network of tunnels and forts on North Head. At North head take in the best view of Auckland. Enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant. Towards the end of the tour guests have the option of either spending free time in Devonport town centre or visiting the outstanding Royal New Zealand Navy Museum. The Navy Museum's vision is “To enrich the lives of present and future generations with an awareness of New Zealand's naval culture and heritage so that they honour the contribution New Zealand's sea warriors have made to peace, security and prosperity.” |
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| Wednesday 18 July Maori culture and arts as a marae and meeting house 10.30am - 4.00pm |
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Kia Ora! Welcome! This will be a special day out. Today immerse yourself in the ways of the Maori people of New Zealand. Experience a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome ceremony) by the tangata whenua (people of the area) to welcome our group onto the marae and learn about the protocols of going onto a marae. Learn about the history and significance of the wharenui (ancestral meeting house) and hear about what the meeting house is used for, what it represents and the stories relating to the carvings. You will also be told the Maori creation story of how the world began. Enjoy lunch with your hosts followed by a selection of interactive workshops such as: · Mau rakau – traditional martial arts, see a demonstration and then have a go yourself using the rakau (fighting stick). · Raranga – traditional flax weaving, your opportunity to learn basic weaving, take your own handmade souvenir home with you. · Taonga puoro – traditional musical instruments, watch the demonstration of the various traditional wind and percussion instruments and then make your own koauau (flute) out of clay. At the conclusion of the interactive workshops there will be time for questions and answers to do with Maori life, Taa Moko (traditional face and body tattooing) and customs followed by a poroporoaki – official farewell from the marae. $270.00 per person includes tour escort, road transport, visit to marae and meeting house and lunch. Minimum of 8 guests – maximum of 80 guests. |
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| Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Monday 16, Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, Friday 20 July Waitomo Caves and Rotorua day tour 7.00am - 8.15pm approximately Highly recommended tour for those who have limited time in New Zealand |
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| This is a scheduled day tour. Visit the world famous Waitomo limestone formations and cave systems to see the shimmering lights of thousands of tiny glow worms. In Rotorua learn about sheep farming at the Agrodome sheep and farm show and visit Te Puia with its boiling mud pools, hot springs and magnificent geysers.
$325.00 per person includes morning tea, guided tour of Waitomo Caves, light lunch, Agrodome sheep show, Maori concert at Te Puia, evening snack and tour escort. No minimum number of guests. |
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For further touring arrangements in New Zealand guests should contact Sharron Hickman at Exclusive Tours Limited. sharronh@exclusivetours.co.nz Exclusive Tours Limited are the organisers of the partners programme and the pre and post conference tours.
